No doubt, Yesudas is a veteran singer and one who has self-involvement and a sense of total commitment, the essential pre-requisites for a classical musician.
We find such qualities in ample proportions at every Yesudas’s concert. He performed for Nungambakkam Cultural Academy which was ripe but not roseate. One fails to understand his propensity to use a laptop at a concert, for outlining the prefixed parameters and lyrics, essential for delineation of the kriti.
When he started to explore (Namami Vigna Vinayaga) in Raga Hamsadwani of Krishna Swami Ayya, with swaras at ‘Namami Vigna’, which was delivered at the speed of a meteor, he revealed his individual prowess but the harmony and the melody got concealed, thanks to the mike output in the auditorium.
He descended on Raga Reethigowla kriti of Oothukkadu Venkatakavi (Enna punniyam) with his fascinating bani and voice rich in timbre. He proceeded to take up Evarito Na Delpudu..., a kriti of Thyagaraja, in the Raga Manavati (5th Kartha Ragam). With scintillating swaras and intonation at Evarito Nae, meaning ‘To whom can I reveal my upheaval’, he brought out the glowing aesthetic sancharas, creating an impression of immensity. However, the audience was able to see the original Yesudas, in the lower octaves of presentation.
A sure shot presentation in most concerts of Yesudas, the Ksheerasagara of Thyagaraja in Raga Devaganthari brought out his prowess at voice modulation. Entharo Mahanubhavulu of Thyagaraja in Sree Ragam lifted the quality of music. The Vasantha Raga (Seethamma Mayamma) of Thyagaraja reflected the resonating voice with enviable range. The swaras at Seethamma received the exclusive touch of his overwhelming vigour.
It was clear that these items were well planned before hand with an eye on requisitioning approbation from the audience, who would not mind dilution of manodharma to some extent and at the cost of exhilaration. Nagai Muralidharan (Violin) was a mirror reproduction. Harikumar (Mridangam) and Vaikom Gopalakrishnan (Ghatam) kept the percussion wing on a tight leash.